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The Passaic Optimist Club holds a number of events throughout the year to celebrate the achievements of young people and honor those who serve them and the wider community. The funds raised through these events go toward the scholarships we award each year that help youth attain their dreams of college and the greater opportunities higher education offers, and to supporting athletic programs and civic organizations that support youth.

We also hold events that simply bring the power of optimism into the community, such as: our Hot Dog Night, which honors the players of both the Passaic and Clifton High School football teams; our annual Essay Contest; and Youth Appreciation, Community Service and Beefsteak awards dinners.

We hold our regular monthly meetings on Thursdays at various local restaurants beginning at 7:00 p.m., September through June. First-time visitors are welcome. With optimism also comes reverie and camaraderie.

Our Signature Events

Virtual Youth Appreciation Awards Program – April 28, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.

For over 70 years the Optimist Club of Passaic has honored outstanding youth in our community at our Annual Youth Appreciation Awards Ceremony. This is a wonderful event that gives all of us a chance to highlight special recipients and give them well-deserved recognition. Each honoree is sponsored by a local Passaic civic or religious organization, club, or team, All nominees display many of the values that are written in both The Optimist Creed as well as The Junior Optimist Youth Code. Representatives of sponsoring organizations will share amazing stories of these special “young optimists”. These stories are motivating and show all of us the success that can be achieved with the right support system and dedication. We are proud of our youth and proud to honor them at this uplifting event!

Due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, this year’s awards ceremony will be conducted virtually. The Honorable Hector Lora, Mayor of Passaic, has graciously offered to host this year’s event through his Facebook live details. A link will be posted approximately two days before the event. Come join us on April 28, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. and help recognize several truly remarkable young people from Passaic!

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Annual Hank Opalka/Harold Ferguson Golf Outing

The Passaic Optimist Club will hold its 25th annual on Monday, June 27, 2022 at Black Bear Golf Club, 138 Route 23 North, Franklin, NJ. Lunch will be served and the driving range will be opened at 11:30 a.m. and will be followed by a shotgun golf start at 1:00 p.m. and dinner at 6:00 p.m. Golfer and business sponsor registrations are now available. Please take a moment and become one of the many golfers, businesses and friends of the Passaic Optimist Club who will support this year’s fundraiser outing.

Hank Opalka: A longtime active member of the Passaic Optimist Club and New Jersey District, Hank was awarded a Life Membership Award in 1990 for his dedicated service to the youth of Passaic. The Club has awarded $5,000 in scholarships in memory of Hank every year since 2014.

Harold Ferguson: Harold was captain of the Passaic High School varsity football team in 1975 and was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident in 1979. The Club has awarded more than $175,000 since creating a scholarship fund in Harold’s memory in 2005, including $10,000 in new scholarships and $9,000 in renewal scholarships during the past year.

Senior Citizens Care Package Program

The Optimist Club has launched a drive to assemble and donate at least 200 care packages to senior citizens residing in Passaic. This year’s care packages will be distributed to seniors at the Chestnut Homes and Hamilton Plaza residences. Club members have offered to donate many of the products for the care packages, including toiletries, including shaving cream, deodorant, body wash, soaps, and lotions. We will also include fun items such as puzzles, crosswords, word searches and coloring books. The care packages will provide Passaic’s senior citizens with needed personal products and the Club’s reminder that they are remembered and are much appreciated. The Club’s goal is to deliver the care packages to seniors during the month of May. With your support we are Optimistic that we can make this an annual giving project to show love and support to our Passaic senior citizen community!

The Club would appreciate your support for this project by making a monetary donation which will be used for additional care packages. Please take a moment and give whatever you can afford to show your support for our efforts. If you would like further information about this project or the Club, please send an email to passaicoptimistservice@gmail.com.

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Awarding Scholarships

The Club formed a 501(C)(3) Foundation in 2011 which oversees the Club’s general scholarships, as well as the Hank Opalka, Harold Ferguson, Antoniette Mobley, and Jennie Ciuppa Memorial Scholarships. In 2020, more than $36,000 in initial and renewal scholarships were awarded to deserving and motivated Passaic High School graduates.

Youth Appreciation Dinner

An annual awards dinner to recognize youth in the City who demonstrate leadership in their civic and religious organizations.

Youth in Government Day

An annual event sponsored by our Club and the City of Passaic where students “shadow” City government workers for a day. Our Youth in Government Day enables more than 50 students from Passaic High School to spend a half-day embedded in the Passaic government administration to learn how government operates. Students are paired with members of the city’s mayor’s office or other government department or city Board of Education, based on their potential career interests. The day begins with a meeting with the Mayor in the City Council Chambers, followed by several hours shadowing their mentor for the day, and then a celebratory luncheon with guest speaker.

Community Service Awards

An annual awards dinner to honor and recognize Passaic Officers, Firefighters and other members of other Passaic civic organizations who make significant contributions to making Passaic a safer and better place to live and learn.

The following awards were given at last year’s ceremony which took place on May 20, 2021:
Optimist Club President’s Award: Gary Zuk
Passaic High School: Marvin Walker
EAP (Education Assoc. of Passaic): Selina Lawson
Union Baptist Church: Madonna
Fraternal Order of Free Masons: Silver Star Lodge #45
Certified Angels: Kayla Guzman
Special Olympics: Cathy Palumbo
NAACP: Kim Cottrell
Police Department: Detective Jasmine Watkins
Fire Department: Firefighter Rene Rivera
Eastern Stars: Good Samaritan 198

Annual ``Person of the Year`` Dinner/Tricky Tray Fundraiser

A GREAT evening of celebration, food and drink, music and dance to recognize a member of the Passaic community who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the youth of Passaic! Those who dedicate themselves to education open invaluable doors for youth. Each year at our Beefsteak Dinner we honor our Person of the Year, someone in education or who supports education or who is dedicated to community service and has made a difference in the lives of young people, all while demonstrating an optimistic attitude. The 2019 Person of the Year was Graciella ‘Shirley’ Romero, Assistant Principal at PHS. This year we will be honoring, Tammy Cooper, PHS English Teacher.

Meeting Schedule

Thurs., Sept. 23, 2021

Welcome Back Virtual Meeting – Zoom Conference

7:00 pm

Thurs., Oct. 21, 2021

General Meeting – Prepare for Meet-n-Greet Location: TBD

7:00 pm

Thurs., Nov. 4, 2021

New Members “Meet-n-Greet”

Shannon Rose Restaurant, Clifton, NJ

7:00 pm

Thurs., Nov. 18, 2021

General Meeting—-Location: TBD

7:00 pm

Thurs., Dec. 9, 2021

General Meeting

Oakley Kitchen, Nutley, NJ

theoakleykitchen.com

7:00 pm

December 11-12 and 18-24, 2021

Line of Coins/Bag for Cash

ShopRite, Passaic, NJ

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c48ada82ca5f5cf8-line

TBD

Thurs., Feb. 3, 2022

General Meeting—-ZOOM

7:00 pm

Friday, Feb. 4, 2022

Person of the Year Dinner–POSTPONED (see April 22)

7:00 pm

Thurs., March 10, 2022

General Meeting—-LIVE theoakleykitchen.com

7:00 pm

Thurs., April 7, 2022

General Meeting—-LIVE theoakleykitchen.com

7:00 pm

Fri., April 22, 2022

Person of the Year Dinner

Honoring Tammy Cooper

PHS English Teacher

The Brownstone

7:00 pm

Thurs., Apr. 28, 2022

Youth Appreciation Dinner

Mayor Hector Lora

Live Facebook Event

7:00 pm

Thurs., May 5, 2022

General Meeting—-Location: TBD

7:00 pm

Thurs., May 19, 2022

Community Service Awards

Garden Vista Ballroom, Passaic, NJ

7:00 pm

Wed., June 1, 2022

Foundation Trustees Scholarship Awards

Dinner Meeting

La Riviera Trattoria, Clifton, NJ

7:00 pm

June 4, 2022 (TENTATIVE)

Youth in Government Day Luncheon

Garden Vista Ballroom, Passaic, NJ

12:00 pm

Thurs., June 9, 2022

General Meeting—-Location: TBD

7:00 pm

Mon., June 27, 2022

Golf Outing-Black Bear Golf Club

138 Rt. 23 N., Franklin, NJ

12:00 pm

TBD

Club Picnic-TBD

TBD